Display system for showing the days of the week in an electrical timepiece

ABSTRACT

In an electrically activatable display system in a timepiece the first two letters of each of the days of the week are selectively activatable electrically. The letters consist of segments so disposed in relation to each other that at least one segment can be used in the formation of a plurality of letters. The system can be modified to display the first two letters of the days of the week in any of a number of languages.

United States Patent 11 1 Maezawa [4 Dec. 16, 1975 DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR SHOWING THE [56] References Cited DAYS OF THE WEEK IN AN ELECTRICAL UNITED STATES PATENTS TIMEPIECE 3,691.755 9/1972 Girard 58/50 R 75 inventor: Shuji Maezawa, Suwa, Japan 3,733,810 5/1973 Girard 58/4 A Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha, Primary ExaminerEdith Simmons Jackmon Tokyo, Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blum Moscovitz Friedman 22 Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 & Kapla [21] App]. N0.: 452,317

Related US. Application Data [57] BsTRAgzT [63] continuatiommpart of Sen No 354,417, April 25, In an electrically actwatable d1splay system in a t1me- 1973 abandoned. piece the first two letters of each of the days of the week are selectively activatable electrically. The let- [30] Forelg Apphcatm Pnomy Data ters consist of segments so disposed in relation to each May 2, 1972 Japan 47-44022 other that at least one segment can be used in the formation of a plurality of letters. The system can be [52] US. Cl modified to display the first two letters of the days of 336 the week in any of a number of languages. [51] Int. CL? ..G04B 19/24; GO9D 3/00;

' G09B 13/00 [58] Field of Search 40/107, 130 D, 130 E; 3 Clams 8 Dawmg Fgures 58/4 A, 58, l27 R; 340/336 US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet 1of8 3,925,977

a 24c Z9 Z/ 23b 25a U.S. Patent Dec.16,1975 Sheet3of8 3,925,977

' US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet4of8 3,925,977

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 5 of 8 3,925,977

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet60f8 3,925,977

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 7 of8 3,925,977

- 5/ g .5843 50 I A 565 US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 shws of8 3,925,977

DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR SHOWING THE DAYS OF THE WEEK IN AN ELECTRICAL TIMEPIECE REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 354,417, filed Apr. 25, 1973, for DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR SHOWING THE DAYS OF THE WEEK IN AN ELECTRICAL TIMEPIECE, which is now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Calendar watches have hitherto shown the day of the week by means of a geared day wheel which is mechanically driven. With the advent of the electrically powered watch, where the source of power is a battery, and where the battery is also used for activating an electrical display system, it becomes urgent to conserve power so that the use of a mechanically driven day wheel no longer conforms to the needs of the system. As a result, electrical display systems based on the use of liquid crystals or light-emitting diodes have been developed. Here, another problem arises, namely that it is desired to minimize the size of timepieces, and, particularly, of wrist watches. This limits the display space available. Consequently, a display system having seven pairs of two letters each would require an inordinately large area on the face of a timepiece. What is needed, then, is a display system so constructed that only a relatively small area is necessary for showing the seven combinations of two letters corresponding to the seven days of the week.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Pairs of letters corresponding to the days of the week are constructed in selectively activatable segments. At least one segment and preferably a plurality of segments are so arranged that said one segment can be used in the formation of a plurality of letters. The use of even one segment in the formation of more than one letter decreases the space needed for displaying the letters corresponding to the days of the week and the arrangement of said segments in such a way that a plurality of segments can be used in the formation of more than one letter results in a substantial decrease in the area required for said display. Suitable modifications are shown by which the system can be adapted to function in any of a number of languages.

The display systems are electrically activated; both liquid crystal display units and light-emitting diode units are suitable for use in forming the letters in accordance with the present invention.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical display system for a timepiece wherein the first two letters of any day of the week can be displayed and the space used for the display of said letters is less than would be required if it were necessaryto provide separate space for each of the pairs of letters.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical display system for showing the days of the week in a timepiece, wherein the letters used for said display are at least partly divided into segments.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical display system for a timepiece for showing the days of the week, wherein at least one of the segments into which said letters are divided may be used in the formation of a plurality of letters.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical display system for showing the days of the week in a timepiece wherein the letters to be shown are divided into three groups with respect to the segments used for displaying said letters.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical display system for a timepiece adaptable for showing the initial letters of the days of the week in one of a number of languages other than English.

Still other objects and advantages -of the invention will in part be obvious and will be apparent from the specification The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an arrangement of segments in accordance with the present invention for showing in English the days of the week in a timepiece electrically;

FIG. 2 shows how the first two letters of each day of theweek appear when appropriate segments as in FIG. I are selectively activated;

FIG. 3 is an arrangement of segments in accordance with the present invention for showing in French the days of the week in a timepiece electrically;

FIG. 4 shows how the first two letters of each day of the week appear when appropriate segments as in FIG. 3 are selectively activated;

FIG. 5 is an arrangement of segments in accordance with the present invention showing in German the days of the week in a timepiece electrically;

FIG. 6 shows how the first two letters of each day of the week appear when appropriate segments as in FIG. 5 are selectively activated;

FIG. 7 is an arrangement of segments in accordance with the present invention for showing in Spanish the days of the week in a timepiece electrically; and

FIG. 8 shows how the first two letters of each day of the week appear when appropriate segments as in FIG. 7 are selectively activated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to be able to represent the initial two letters of all seven days of the week in English, it is necessary that the capital letters S, M, T, W and F be presented, and that the lower case letters u, o, e, h, r and a be represented. Furthermore, as is evident, appropriate letters must be contiguous so that the combinations Su, Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr and Sa must be shown with the lower case letter following immediately after the capital. As aforenoted, to place all seven pairs of letters separately on a dial would require the occupation of too great a space. Reduction in space is achieved by dividing a number of the letters into segments and arranging for the use of at least one segment and preferably a plurality of segments in more than one letter or combination of letters.

A particularly good solution to the problem using the above principle is shown in FIG. 1. Group 11 consists of segments which overall has a shape which is close to Tu, Fr." The group is divided into the segments 21,

22, 23 and 24 in which segment 23 is h-shaped. The shape'is achieved by reason of the fact that segment 23 actually consists of two portions 230 and 23b which are electrically connected by lead 23c. Todisplay the combination Tu, segments. 21 and 22 are activated. To

enting six letters (two of which are the same) in the space ordinarily needed for the presentation of three letters.

Group 12 is divided into three sets of segments, 25, 26 and 27. Each of the segments is further divided as can be seen from FIG. 1. For displaying Mo, segments 25 25a 26 and 260 are activated. For displaying We, segments 26 26a 27 and 27a are activated. Thus, sections 25, 26 and 27 together with25a, 26a and 27a display four letters in the space normally occuplied by two.

Finally, group 13 consists of segments 28 and 29. For the display of Sn, only. segment 28, which is divided into two portions electrically connected, is activatedi For the display of Sa, both segments-28 and 29 are activated. In the case of group '13, four letters (two of which are identical) are'displayed in the space normally used by two.

It will be noted that the number of leads from'the segments to a power source (not shown) needed is only nine, whereas fourteen leads would be needed if the letters were unsegmented and were placed side by side. Also, a plurality of segments are used in more than one letter.

booking at the configuration of FIG. 1, it can be seen that the fourteen letters which would be required in the conventional arrangement, have been compressed into a space which would ordinarily be enough only for six letters. Also, only 9 leads are needed formaking connection to all of the segments.

Although the appearance of the various combinations of letters corresponding to the various days of the week can be discerned by study of FIG. 1, the way in which the days of the week will be represented when unactivated segments are not visible is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 also shows the relative locations of the various pairs of letters on a strip such as would be allocated for such representation on the face of a timepiece. Furthermore, since groups of segments 11, 12 and 13 function quite independently of each other, these groups could be arranged in any of the six possiblepermutations without affecting the operability and mode of operation of the system.

Similar arrangements are readily made where the days of the week are to be indicated in French,,German or Spanish.

The arrangement of segments suitable for showing the days of the week in French is shown in FIG. 3. Here segment 34 consists of portions 34a and 34b connected by conductive strip 34c. Similarly, segment 38 consists of the two portions 38a and 38b connected by the conductive strip 380. The total number of leads necessary to make connection to all of the segments is 10. As before, the appearance of the initial letters of each day of the week can be discerned from FIG. 3, but, for convenience, the appearance of the various combinations is shown in FIG. 4. As before, the combinations consist of three groups which could be shifted around with respectto each other.

- An arrangement of segments suitable for showing the days of the week inGerman is shown in FIG. 5. Again, segment 43 consists of portions 43a'and 43b connected by strip conductor 43c, segment 45 consists of portions 45a and 45b connected by strip conductor 45c and segment 48 consists of portions 48a and 48b connected by strip conductor 48c. It will be noted that there is a gap given the reference numeral 42g in the upper portion of segment 42. The purpose of this gap is to permit traversal therethrough of the strip conductors (not shown) which are used to activate segments 43 and 44 which are disposed within segment 42. The total number of leadsnecessary foractivating the segments is nine.

As before, the appearance of the initial two letters of each day of the week is shown in FIG. 6.

An arrangement of segments suitable for showing the initial letters of the days of the week in Spanish is shown in FIG. 7. Segment 50 consists of portions 50a and 50b connected by conductive strip lead 500, segment 55 consists of portions 55a and 55b connected by conductive strip 55c and segment 58 consists of 58a, 58b and 58c connected by conductive strips 58d and 58e. In this case only eight conductive leads are necessary for activating the segments.

Once more, the appearance of the initial two letters of each day of the week are shown in a separate Figure, namely FIG. 8.

It will be noted that the maximum number of segments necessary for showing the initial two letters of the day of the week in any of the languages exemplified was ten.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is: l

l. A display system in a timepiece for showing each of the days of the week in the form of the corresponding initial two letters, said display system being electrically activated, comprising three groups of letters, said first group of letters consisting of an S and an a to the right of said S, the letter a being horizontally divided into two segments so that activation of the lower segment presents the letter'u and activation of both segments presents the letter a, said letter S being electrically connected with said lower segment of said letter a for activation together, said second group of letters consisting of a first subgroup of segments including a left segment, a middle segment and a right segment, activation of said left segmentand said middle segment forming an M and activatiaon of said middle segment and said right segment forming a W, and a second subgroup of segments to the right of said first subgroup of segments, said second subgroup including an upper left segment, a lower right segment and a middle horizontal segment, activation of said lower right segment and said upper left segment presenting the letter 0, and activation of all three segments in said second subgroup forming the letter B, said left segment in said first subgroup being electrically connected with said lower right segment in said second subgroup, said middle segment in said first subgroup being electrically connected with said upper left segment in said second subgroup, and said right segment in said first subgroup being arranged for simultaneous electrical activation with said horizontal segment of said second subgroup connected with said horizontal segment in said second subgroup, and a third group of letters consisting of a T, and a u to the right of said T, a long vertical bar having a horizontal arm extending rightward therefrom at approximately the mid-point thereof, said long vertical bar having lower and upper ends and being positioned with its lower end within the vertical legs of said u, a horizontal bar having a left end positioned with its left end proximate the upper end of said long vertical bar, a short vertical bar positioned to the right of said u and a curved bar in an angled position to the right of said short vertical bar, said long vertical bar and said horizontal bar forming an F, said long vertical bar and said short vertical bar forming an h and said short vertical bar with said curved angle bar forming an r, said long vertical bar and said short vertical bar being electrically connected and said horizontal bar and said curved angled bar being electrically connected, said first group thereby being adapted for presenting Sa and Su, said second group being adapted for presenting Mo and We, and said third group being adapted for presenting Tu, Th and Fr, whereby the initial two letters of all days of the week may be presented.

2. A display system as defined in claim 1, wherein the total number of selectively activatable segments is no more than l0.

3. A display system for indicating the days of the week by means of the corresponding initial two letters, said display system being electrically activated, consisting essentially of three groups of activatable segments, said first group including a segment in the shape of a letter S and upper and lower segments to the right of said letter S segment for selectively presenting the letter a and the letter u, a second group including a first subgroup consisting of left, middle and right segments for selectively presenting a letter M or a letter W, and a secondsubgroup to the right of said first subgroup, said second subgroup including upper left, lower right and horizontal middle segments for selectively presenting a letter 0 or a letter e, and a third group for selectively displaying the letters T, h, f, u and r including a segment in the shape of a letter T, a segment in the shape of a letter u to the right of said letter T segment, a long vertical segment having upper and lower ends and a horizontal arm extending rightward from proximate the midpoint thereof, said horizontal arm having a right end, the lower end of said long vertical segment being positioned between the vertical legs of said letter u segment, a horizontal bar having a left end, said horizontal bar being positioned with its left end proximate the upper end of said long vertical segment, a short vertical bar having an upper end, the upper end of said short vertical bar being proximate the right end of said horizontal arm, and a curved segment extending upwardly and to the right from proximate the midpoint of said short vertical bar, said long vertical bar, said horizontal bar, said short vertical bar and said curved segment when selectively activated in appropriate combination sufficing to display the letters F, 11 and r. 

1. A display system in a timepiece for showing each of the days of the week in the form of the corresponding initial two letters, said display system being electrically activated, comprising three groups of letters, said first group of letters consisting of an S and an a to the right of said S, the letter a being horizontally divided into two segments so that activation of the lower segment presents the letter u and activation of both segments presents the letter a, said letter S being electrically connected with said lower segment of said letter a for activation together, said second group of letters consisting of a first subgroup of segments including a left segment, a middle segment and a right segment, activation of said left segment and said middle segment forming an M and activatiaon of said middle segment and said right segment forming a W, and a second subgroup of segments to the right of said first subgroup of segments, said second subgroup including an upper left segment, a lower right segment and a middle horizontal segment, activation of said lower right segment and said upper left segment presenting the letter o, and activation of all three segments in said second subgroup forming the letter e, said left segment in said first subgroup being electrically connected with said lower right segment in said second subgroup, said middle segment in said first subgroup being electrically connected with said upper left segment in said second subgroup, and said right segment in said first subgroup being arranged for simultaneous electrical activation with said horizontal segment of said second subgroup connected with said horizontal segment in said second subgroup, and a third group of letters consisting of a T, and a u to the right of said T, a long vertical bar having a horizontal arm extending rightward therefrom at approximately the mid-point thereof, said long vertical bar having lower and upper ends and being positioned with its lower end within the vertical legs of said u, a horizontal bar having a left end positioned with its left end proximate the upper end of said long vertical bar, a short vertical bar positioned to the right of said u and a curved bar in an angled position to the right of said short vertical bar, said long vertical bar and said horizontal bar forming an F, said long vertical bar and said short vertical bar forming an h and said short vertical bar with said curved angle bar forming an r, said long vertical bar and said short vertical bar being electrically connected and said horizontal bar and said curved angled bar being electrically connected, said first group thereby being adapted for presenting Sa and Su, said second group being adapted for presenting Mo and We, and said third group being adapted for presenting Tu, Th and Fr, whereby the initial two letters of all days of the week may be presented.
 2. A display system as defined in claim 1, wherein the total number of selectively activatable segments is no more than
 10. 3. A display system for indicating the days of the week by means of the corresponding initial two letters, said display system being electrically activated, consisting essentially of three groups of activatable segments, said first group including a segment in the shape of a letter S and upper and lower segments to the right of said letter S segment for selectively presenting the letter a and the letter u, a second group including a first subgroup consisting of left, middle and right segments for selectively presenting a letter M or a letter W, and a second subgroup to the right of said first subgroup, said second subgroup including upper left, lower right and horizontal middle segments for selectively presenting a letter o or a letter e, and a third group for selectively displaying the letters T, h, f, u and r including a segment in the shape of a letter T, a segment in the shape of a letter u to the right of said letter T segment, a long vertical segment having upper and lower ends and a horizontal arm extending rightward from proximate the midpoint thereof, said horizontal arm having a right end, the lower end of said long vertical segment being positioned between the vertical legs of said letter u segment, a horizontal bar having a left end, said horizontal bar being positioned with its left end proximate the upper end of said long vertical segment, a short vertical bar having an upper end, the upper end of said short vertical bar being proximate the right end of said horizontal arm, and a curved segment extending upwardly and to the right from proximate the midpoint of said short vertical bar, said long vertical bar, said horizontal bar, said short vertical bar and said curved segment when selectively activated in appropriate combination sufficing to display the letters F, h and r. 